News Release

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP Project to Remove Non-Historic Structures and Rehabilitate Historic Landscapes

A rectangular concrete structure painted brown on the side of a hill near a stone wall.
The concrete block garage intrudes on the Fredericksburg National Cemetery near the historic Stone Wall.

NPS Photo

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News Release Date: March 11, 2024

Contact: John Storke, 540-693-3200 x5010

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. — This spring, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park will remove six non-historic structures from the park landscape. Their removal will allow the park to rehabilitate the historic battlefield landscapes where these structures currently stand. The project is scheduled to begin after April 1 and is anticipated to take about five months.

This project will include the demolition of six former residential properties and one cement block garage shop. All the structures are non-historic, abandoned, and within park boundaries. Many of the buildings are structurally compromised and include hazardous materials that will be mitigated.

All the properties to be demolished were built on former battlefields. These modern structures intrude upon culturally significant landscapes, which may contain archaeologically sensitive materials. The park will monitor the project to protect any cultural resources uncovered during the demolition process.

Once the non-historic structures are removed, the park will match the remaining landscapes with their natural surroundings. At four of the sites, the park will plant native oak and other woody species found in nearby forest communities. The rehabilitation of these historical landscapes will further the park’s mission to protect and preserve the ground upon which thousands of Americans fought and died during the Civil War.

Update: 4/28/2024

The contract for this project has been awarded and the project is underway. Workers may be onsite conducting this work from April to September.

Update: 8/5/2024

Demolition has begun. The project is currently anticipated to conclude by the end of November.

Update: 11/6/2024

Demolition is complete. All areas have been cleared and seeded with appropriate vegetation and trees in the sites that are near forested areas.



A view of Marye's Heights behind the Sunken Road with the Cemetery Lodge and an empty space where a building was reently demolished.
The non-historic garage behind the Fredericksburg National Cemetery Lodge has been removed.

NPS Photo

Last updated: November 6, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

120 Chatham Ln
Fredericksburg, VA 22405

Phone:

540 693-3200

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